2014 GMC Terrain · symptom sheet
Timing chain or cam phaser rattles
- 31owner reports
- 80,000median miles
- $2,800median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Feb 18, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
127 of the 283 complaints on this car are about the engine. 31 of those describe timing chain failure.
Tick what matches of 31 reports
Timing chain failure on other Terrain years
No other Terrain model year has enough reports of timing chain failure for a sheet of its own. See every Terrain year.
What this problem usually is
This sheet is about a rattle from the front of the engine, often at its worst right after a cold start, that dealers trace to the timing chain or the cam phasers. It's heavily concentrated: the 2017 to 2019 Ford F-150 accounts for about four in ten of these complaints across the site.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the timing chain (28 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2014 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
5 of the 31 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,200 to $10,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 65,000 and 120,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2014 GMC Terrain that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0008 or P0009 may be set. Technician will need to inspect for loose timing chains or tensioners.
CADILLAC/BUICK/CHEVROLET/GMC: DUE TO CAM ACTUATOR CODES SET DTC P0011, DTC P0014, DTC 20024, DTC P0021 AND NO OTHER DRIVABILITY ISSUES, THE ENGINE EUN STICKER SHOULD BE INSPECTED, BEFORE REPLACING ACTUATOR. *PE
What owners wrote
“Timing chain malfunction that burned through oil causing the engine to seize. No engine light indicators were displayed in regards to this issue. The issue escalated quickly with signs showing only 2 days before the engine finally seized & leaking oil into engine bay. It is also noted that the engine oil has had many reported leaks into fuel tanks & other areas of the car.”
Filed Feb 15, 2023
“Issue of timing chain failure. After 100,000 miles of use during which time no engine warning lights of any kind were observed the timing chain broke disabling the vehicle & resulting in dealer repair estimates upwards of $10,000.”
Filed Jun 20, 2022 · 100,000 miles
“All service was always performed on my car on schedule. I was driving from work to school to pick up the kids, and my car went silent and I had no control. Almost all the oil was gone and the timing chain had broke and destroyed my motor. I had just had the oil changed a few weeks before. Now it needs a new motor.”
Filed Feb 18, 2022
“on line it said that this vehicle was having problems with the timing chain which could break when driving causing damage to motor or worse yet loss of control. I had it to garage and they said the ticking noise is the timing chain. Is gmc recalling the vehicles for this?”
Filed Aug 29, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 31 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Windshield wipers stop working 72 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 49 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 49 reports
- Burns oil or oil level rises 39 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 29 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 27 reports